Table 4 Determination of the total viable bacterial and fungal counts (CFU/g) in herbal medicine samples
From: Microbial contamination in herbal medicines: a serious health hazard to elderly consumers
Herbal medicine | Acceptable limits (CFU/g ≤ 105)a count/g or mL | Unacceptable limits (CFU/g > 105)a count/g or mL | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total viable aerobic bacterial count | Total viable fungal count | Total viable aerobic bacterial count | Total viable fungal count | ||||
Preparation | Use | Forms | Samples % (N) | % (N) | % (N) | % (N) | % (N) |
Homemade herbal medicines | Oral | Solid | 5.3 (7) | 1.5 (2 ± 0.8) | 1.5 (2 ± 1.1) | 2.3 (3 ± 0.5) | 3.0 (4 ± 1.8) |
Semisolid | 1.5 (2) | 0 (0 ± 0.2) | 0 (0) | 0.8 (1 ± 0.2) | 0.8 (1 ± 1.0) | ||
Liquid | 23.5 (31) | 10.6 (14 ± 1.2) | 3.0 (4 ± 1.1) | 10.6 (14 ± 1.5) | 3.0 (4 ± 2.3) | ||
Topical | Solid | 3.0 (4) | 0.8 (1 ± 0.3) | 0 (0) | 1.5 (2 ± 0.4) | 1.5 (2 ± 2.0) | |
Semisolid | 2.3 (3) | 0 (0) | 0.8 (1 ± 0.2) | 0 (0) | 0.8 (1 ± 0.8) | ||
Liquid | 3.8 (5) | 0 (0) | 1.5 (2 ± 1.0) | 1.5 (2 ± 0.5) | 1.5 (2 ± 1.4) | ||
Total | 39.4 (52) | 12.9 (17 ± 1.8) | 6.8 (9 ± 0.9) | 16.7 (22 ± 2.3) | 10.6 (14 ± 1.9) | ||
Commercial herbal medicines | Oral | Solid | 7.6 (10) | 0.8 (1 ± 0.5) | 1.5 (2 ± 0.5) | 3.0 (4 ± 0.5) | 3.0 (4 ± 1.3) |
Semisolid | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | ||
Liquid | 36.4 (48) | 6.0 (8 ± 1.1) | 3.0 (4 ± 1.2) | 8.3 (11 ± 1.8) | 8.3 (11 ± 2.3) | ||
Topical | Solid | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | |
Semisolid | 10.6 (14) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1.5 (2 ± 0.5) | 1.5 (2 ± 1.0) | ||
Liquid | 6.0 (8) | 0 (0) | 0.8 (1 ± 1.0) | 2.3 (3 ± 0.8) | 3.8 (5 ± 1.1) | ||
Total | 60.6 (80) | 6.8 (9 ± 1.1) | 5.3 (7 ± 1.2) | 15.1 (20 ± 1.5) | 16.7 (22 ± 1.9) | ||
Grand total | 100 (132) | 26 (19.7) | 16 (12.1) | 42 (31.8) | 31 (23.5) | ||